Cutter attachment for pencils.



No. 650,546. I Patented may 29,1900;

w. H. PUT. CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR PENCILS.

Appucion med-Feb. 14, i900.)

(No Model.)

UNiTnD STATES 'PATENT 'WILLIAM Il. PITT, OF BUFFALO, NEV YORK.

CUTTER ATTACHMENT FOR PENCILS.

SPECFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 650,546, dated May 29, 1 900.

Application filed February 14, 1900. Serial No. 5,134. (No modem To all 1,071,077?, it m/.rty concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. PITT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the countyV of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Cutter Attachments for Pencils, dac., of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to an en velop-opener and paper-cutter which is adapted to be attached to a pencil, penholder, or similar handle.

The object of my invention is to provide a cutter attachment of this kind which can be readily locked in its closed position and in which the number of parts is reduced to a minimum, so as to render the cost of the attachment correspondingly small.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation of a pencil provided with my improved attachment. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. .3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of theattachnient, showing the cutting-blade open. Fig. 4 is a similar section showing the blade closed preparatory to locking the same. Fig. 5 is a similar view showing the blade locked in its closed position. Fig. 6 is a cross-section in line 6 6, Fig. 4. Figs. 7 and 8 are similar sections in lines 7 and S 8, Fig. 5.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A is a pencil or similar handle, to which the cutter attachment is applied. This handle is provided in one side with a longitudinal groove or recess b, which extends inwardly from the rear end thereof.

C is a tube or cylindrical casing surrounding the grooved portion of the pencil or handle and closed at its outer end by a plug d, which preferably consists of a block of soft india-rubber, so as to serve as an eraser. The casing C is provided with a longitudinal slot e, which coincides with the groove b of the handle.

F is a knife or cutting blade arranged lengthwise in the groove Z) of the handle and the slot e of the casing C and adapted to fold or swing into said slot and groove when not in use, as shown in Figs. l, 2,' 4, and 5, or to project through `said slot when the same is to be used as shown in Fig. The cuttingblade has a combined longitudinal and swinging movement and is provided in its back, near its rear end, with a not-ch g, which in the open position of the blade engages loosely with a fulcrum -bar 7L. This bar extends across the slot of the casing and is preferably formed integral with the casing. The blade is provided at its rear end with a serrated or roughened thumb-piece t, which extends through the slotof the casing and whereby the blade is slid lengthwise in the groove of the handle. The fulcrum-notch g is made so shallow that it wholly clears the fulcrumbar 7L when the cutting-blade is folded to its closed position, as shown in Fig. 4, and the portion of the back of the blade immediately in front of this notch is recessed or cut away, as shown at j, so that after closing the blade the same can be slid rearwardly by means of its th umh-piece to the position shown in Fig. 5. In this position the recessed portion j of the blade engages under the fulcrum-bar h,

thereby locking the blade in its closed position.

K is a spring which tends to swing the cutting-blade into its open position and which holds its notch g in engagement with the fulcrum-bar in the open position of the blade.

In the construction shown in the drawings a wire spring is employed, which is arranged lengthwise in the handle-groove b and which bears at its free end against the front edge of the cutting-blade on the front side of its fulcrum, so as to have a tendency to swing the blade outwardly. The opposite end of the spring is formed with an approximately U-shaped bend 7c, arranged substantially at right angles to the body of the spring and having its outer portion confined between the inner end of the plug d and the adjacent end ofthe pencil or handle.

In the closed and locked position of the cutting-blade the spring K is strained. To open the blade, the same is simply pushed forwardly by means of its thumb-piece t', so as to move the recessed back portion j of the blade out of engagement with the fulcrumbar h and bring the notch g of the blade opposite said bar. As soon as the front edge of the notch g clears the fulcrum-bar the blade is unlocked and the spring automatically swings the blade outwardly to its open posi- IOO tion, in which said notch interlocks with the fulcrum-bar, as shown in Fig. 3. The thumbpiece limits the opening movement of the blade beyond an acute angle to the handle, and in this oblique position the blade can be conveniently :run along the fold of an envelop for opening it or between the leaves of a book or magazine for cutting the same. In order to vclose the blade, the same is pressed into the groove b of the handle and at the same time shifted rearwardly to the position shown in Fig. 5, thereby reliably locking the blade in its groove. In this position the point of the blade is flush with orY below the surface of the casing C, preventing the same from in juring the hand or catching on the pocket in which the pencil is carried.

As the locking device forms part of the blade, the construction of the attachment is greatly simplified and its cost comparatively small.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination with a handle having a longitudinal groove or recess, of a cuttingblade arranged in said groove and capable of a combined sliding and swinging movement therein, a fulcrum which is arranged to prevent longitudinal movement of the blade in its open position and which clears the blade in the closed position thereof, and a spring which tends to open the blade, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with a tube or casing having a longitudinal slot and a fulcrum-bar ext-ending across said slot, of a cutting-blade capable of a combinedlongitudinal and swing ing movement in said casing and adapted to project through the slot thereof, said blade being provided in its back with a `notch adapted to interlock with said fulcrum-bar in the open position of the blade and constructed to clear said bar in the closed position of the blade, and a spring which tends to open said blade, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination with a tube or casing having a longitudinal slot and a fulcrum-bar extending across said slot, of a cutting-blade capable of a combined longitudinal and swinging movement in said casing and adapted to project through said slot, and provided at its rear end with a thumb-piece which projects through the slot of the casing and in front of said thumb-piece with a notch arranged to interlock with said fulcrum-bar in the open position of the blade and to clear the bar in the closed position of the blade, and a spring which bears against the front edge of the blade, in front of its fulcrum, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 10th day of February, 1900.

IVM. II. PITT.

lVitnesses: n

JNO. J. BoNNEn, CLAUDIA M. BENTLEY. 

